Lesley Lopez on The Power of Authenticity in Public Service
In this special episode of Chief Influencer, we feature a new leader at our partner The George Washington University. Lesley Lopez is the Director of the Graduate Program for Public Relations and Communications at the Graduate School of Political Management.
An elected Maryland State Delegate, Lesley is a Chief Influencer in her own right. She recently transitioned from her role as an adjunct professor to lead the Graduate Program for Public Relations and Communications, where she is developing new approaches to engage professional students about the issues that matter in today’s world. Lesley emphasizes the importance of two-way influence, coalition building, and authenticity in politics. She also highlights her innovative initiatives at GW, including a focus on AI in communications and social impact, and invites listeners to engage with the program and its offerings.
Takeaways:
- Embrace Authenticity in Leadership: Be genuine in your interactions and share real experiences to build trust and credibility.
- Develop Your Unique Leadership Style: Reflect on your personal strengths, passions, and experiences to carve out a leadership style that feels natural to you.
- Master the Art of Conflict Resolution: Understand where others are coming from and build bridges despite disagreements to foster cooperation and inclusive decisions.
- Be Transparent and Accessible: Regularly engage with your audience, even informally, to demystify your role and build a deeper connection with your constituents.
- Leverage Social Media for Genuine Connections: Use social media to share personal stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses into your life, making your digital presence more relatable and engaging.
- Balance Visibility with Humility: While being proactive in sharing your work is important, demonstrating humility and serving genuinely can resonate deeply with the public.
- Continual Learning and Adaptation: Stay informed about new trends in communications, technology, or public policy, and be prepared to incorporate them into your leadership toolkit.
Quote of the Show:
- “You have to step outside of that image of who you think a politician is supposed to be and just be a real person. Just speak from the heart.”
Links:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesleylopez/
- GW College of Professional Studies Website: https://cps.gwu.edu/
Shout Outs:
- Master’s in PR at the Graduate School of Professional Studies at GW: https://cps.gwu.edu/prc
- Bianca Prade: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaprade/
- Washington Business Journal
- Shannon Watts: https://momsdemandaction.org/shannon-watts/
- Moms Demand Action: https://momsdemandaction.org/
Creators and Guests
Host
Anthony Shop
Anthony Shop believes in the power of people-centered branding and marketing to create a bright future. He chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. Anthony also is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a digital services firm that helps companies and non-profits establish winning strategies with social media, websites, creative, and advertising. An enthusiastic presenter and teacher, he has led executive-level training for Amazon, PepsiCo, NASA, The British Embassy and the Bipartisan Policy Center. He has been recognized as an “OUTstanding LGBT Role Model” by The Financial Times, “40 Under 40” by The Washington Business Journal, and Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce. A former newspaper reporter, Anthony was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors. He currently serves on the boards of Leadership Greater Washington and LearnServe International. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he teaches as an adjunct lecturer.
Producer
Robert Krueger
Robert is an Executive Director for The Communications Board, an organization with the mission of providing high-quality professional development for every communicator in every location. He is also the Global Lead for Partnership Communications at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm. Prior to his current role, he performed executive and CEO communications for Gensler, and was the senior director of public relations and social media at the Urban Land Institute. He obtained an MA in Communications and an MA in History from George Mason University. He did his undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In addition, Robert has taught communications at universities including George Mason University, West Virginia University, and the University of Florida. Robert currently serves as Immediate-Past President for the Public Relations Society of America’s National Capital Chapter (PRSA-NCC) -- the nonprofit’s largest chapter.